Meet Mo, My Special Hero

National Dog Day celebrates all dogs and honors them. Every dog is special in their own way, they can all give you their unconditional love and amaze you every day in so many ways; no matter their breed, age, color, place of origin or special skills. They are ALL incredible creatures that deserve to be celebrated. So let’s celebrate our heroes today (as much as every other day)!

This is my hero. His name is Mo and he’ll be 12 years old in December but he’s as vital as a 5-year old.

Mo is a survivor, a cat rescuer, a former alpha losing his powers through the years, a stone freak, a snow lover, a party animal, a playful companion, a sensitive being. He’s a polite and educated fellow full of joy and love to give. The perfect being.

When I met him he had turned 5 years old a couple of months before and his personality was basically shaped. I was instantly captivated by his beautiful eyes and his cheerful and friendly personality. Eight months later, I was already sharing a roof with him.

It has been an incredible journey; seeing him age, become wiser and more stubborn, make friends and get constantly visited by the neighborhood dogs, surprise me in many ways, bring smiles into the darkest days.

Mo was the only puppy from a litter that survived a cold snowy night. He deserved a good home and he found the perfect one. He found care and lots of love and he grew to be incredible.

We’ve seen so many stories of animals that are rescued and one way or another end up paying it forward. I think Mo pays it forward rescuing cats.

He was around 4 years old when he “rescued” his first cat: a small motherless kitten he gently picked up from under a bush. The kitten –later named “Mačić”– found a home and Mo found a best friend. Apparently the way they played was unique and their relationship was really special, but sadly it didn’t last long, as soon after Mačić got sick and died.

Mo and Mačić

Then it came the second cat, “Zvone”. Maybe a year after Mo lost his best friend, he found himself a new one under the exact same circumstances and not only that, the second cat looked exactly like Mačić.

Zvone also found a home and a best friend. The relationship was not the same but it was also special. Sadly, it was also short. Zvone was a free spirit and one day he just didn’t come back.

Mo and Zvone

When I started living with Mo, I was moving into a different country in the other side of the world and bringing my 10-year old cat with me. There was no way in hell I was going to leave Joaquina behind –she had been my cat since she was just a kitten. But this was a path I needed to follow and having a dog so enthusiastic about cats, made everything smoother.

Mo and Joaquina

After the initial shock of the plane, the trip, the new smells, the new house and the huge dog, Joaquina made herself at home and she and Mo slowly became a family. Sadly, Joaquina died 4 years later. I don’t know if Mo misses her, I know I do. But Mo at least doesn’t lack cats since now we have two more living with us.

Žučić and Sivko

What he probably missed was rescuing them since last year he rescued his third cat. The circumstances were slightly different than with the first two but Mo’s skills to find weak motherless kittens in need remains. This black cat named “Oliver” now, also found a really good home and is growing into a very handsome cat.

Oliver

Whether Mo is paying it forward by rescuing cats or he simply likes them too much, I don’t know, but I don’t really care.

I also don’t know why he prefers to play with stones than with balls or how does he manage to instantly find the ones with the rounded shape he likes.

I don’t know why he adores to get wet but he’s afraid to jump in a shallow spring to find his stone.

I don’t know what he feels when he chews snow balls or when he rubs himself into the grass.

I do know few things though: I know he doesn’t like it when we’re sad, I know he doesn’t like it when he is alone for long, I know he likes parties and having people over but he needs you to check up on him from time to time, I know he stares at you and when you smile, he smiles.

Every little detail makes him who he is.

He survived once and got a chance of a great life, and now it’s our job to make sure he spends his golden years shinning.

Every dog deserves a chance to find a loving home, every dog deserves someone who cares.

Let’s celebrate all dogs today; the ones without a breed and the ones that have one, the ones that were bought and the ones that were adopted, the puppies and the seniors, the service dogs, the pets, the strays, the free-roamers, the ones that are loved and the ones that wait day by day in a cage for someone to give them a home.